Adult Acne: Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Adult Acne Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Who says teenagers are the only ones who can get pimples?

Pimples, or acne, is a skin problem that forms red, painful pustules anywhere in the body (most notably, to the bane of many, on the face) prone to infection, scarring and recurrence.  However, not everyone shares the same experience when it comes to acne.  Some get the short, very rough end of the acne problem: the ones who get multiple acne eruptions all over the face and body.  Others however manage to get just a few troublesome spots or even avoid acne all together.  Knowing these differences, others can’t help but wonder: what causes acne in adults and how can we prevent it?

How To Make A Pimple?

Acne is formed when sebum oil secreted by the skin’s sebaceous glands clogs the pores, attracting bacteria and causing swelling, redness and accumulation of pus.  Sebum is naturally secreted by humans starting at adolescent years and eventually decreasing during late adulthood.

But Why do I have Acne when I’m no longer in my Teens?  Adult acne is surprisingly common and there are several reasons as to why.

Your Hormones Did It.  The reason why your sebaceous glands”the reason behind your pimples”were so active during teen years was because of your equally loopy endocrine system.  Now years later, if you are experiencing acne all over again, chances are your hormones are to blame again.  Though admittedly, it’s not just your endocrine system at fault: a number of foods nowadays are hormonally enhanced to improve quality such as chicken meat.  You can choose organic food sources over potentially hormonally rigged ones and consult with an endocrinologist if the acne problem becomes too much.  Birth pills and supplements can also be prescribed to keep hormones under control.

Proper hygiene isn’t at fault.  But it can make things worse.  Because pimples are caused by sebum clogged pores, hygiene can hardly do anything to prevent it.  However, pimples can get infected and spread out by dirty hands so wash your hands before putting them near your face, especially near-infected pimples.

Old age, thinner skin.  Unlike teenagers, by the time most experience adult acne, their skin is already undergoing aging changes such as thinning and drying out, leading you more prone to infection and breakage.  This means that your 30 plus year old skin won’t be able to tolerate the astringents, creams (including acne medication) and scrubs you once used as a teen.  Therefore, care should be taken to keep the skin as hydrated and intact as possible.

What to Do with Acne?  These general tips apply to both teen and adult acne.

•  No matter what, do not squeeze your pimples.  Squeezing pimples can lead to a worse infection and even spread the acne to other areas.  If you have a really painful pustule, consult your dermatologist for an “acne surgery” (near same as pimple squeezing, through a safer and far cleaner procedure).
•  Wash effectively.  Avoid multiple washes, exfoliations and scrubs at a time, which can cause abrasion and damage to fragile skin.  Choose alcohol-free, fragrant-free soaps and facial washes for use.  Wash your face with warm (not hot) water.  Don’t forget to keep your skin hydrated with oil free moisturizers.
•  Consult your dermatologist for recommended medications, skin care regimens and other approaches best suited for your age.  This is especially important as some anti-pimple medications made for teenagers can cause more harm than good on older adults.

References

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/adult-acne-why-you-get-it-how-fight-it

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/adult-acne-is-treatable

https://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/a/adultacne.htm